Came
across this photo in a basement clean up this week. It was taken 5 Aug
52 at Headquarters First Army, Governor's Island, Lt. Gen. Willis D.
Grittenberger, Commanding General, First Army, Presented Mrs. Marie
O'Donnell wife of the late 1st Lt. Joseph t. O'Donnell, with the
Distinguished Service Cross ( Post-Humous) which was awarded her husband
for extraordinary heroism on 13 Oct 51, near Mun-Dung-Ni, Korea, on
which date he was fatally wounded. Lt. O'Donnell was a member of Com A
38th Inf. Rect., 2nd Inf Div.
Mr. and Mrs. T.J. O'Donnell, parents of the Lieutenant, look on while Mrs. O'Donnell shows the medal and citation to her two daughters, Sharon and Diane. Marie was 26 years old at the time of her husband's death ( He was 29). Although a young and attractive woman, Marie never remarried. I remember her signing a song with these words in them, "I'd rather die young than live old without you". Tragically, she was killed at age 40 while getting into her vehicle in Freeport, LI. Marie and Joe had 7 grandchildren. Sharon has four children and Diane has three sons. Marie and Joe would be so proud of their descendants.
Mr. and Mrs. T.J. O'Donnell, parents of the Lieutenant, look on while Mrs. O'Donnell shows the medal and citation to her two daughters, Sharon and Diane. Marie was 26 years old at the time of her husband's death ( He was 29). Although a young and attractive woman, Marie never remarried. I remember her signing a song with these words in them, "I'd rather die young than live old without you". Tragically, she was killed at age 40 while getting into her vehicle in Freeport, LI. Marie and Joe had 7 grandchildren. Sharon has four children and Diane has three sons. Marie and Joe would be so proud of their descendants.
